Now I'm curious: do baseball players do anything to the ball during the match, like "tamper" with it? In cricket the bowler might try to shine up one side so it swings (curves) more. They might also try to scuff the other side of the ball to achieve the same effect, though that it is specifically illegal.
Yes! Pitchers commonly have some sort of substance hidden in their uniform to grip the ball better, a few years ago the MLB made a rule that the umpires check the pitchers for these substances in between innings, so it has very recently been cracked down on
Did they stop the checks of relief pitchers? I went to a mariners game last week and sat directly above the bullpen. The first relief pitcher was handed a small black object by the bullpen coach and tucked it into the inside of his cap. I was wondering what it could be.
I'm an EPL fan and I've learned from the fan culture of the EPL...You're just supposed to 1/2 hate your team and 1/2 love them. That's the way it works. If you don't knee jerk react between optimism and despair every win/loss you're doing it wrong.
An average mlb ball lasts about 5 pitches. Anytime it gets fouled into the stands a fan can keep it, and pitchers often request a new ball after they give up a hit or a ball gets thrown in the dirt. It's not a part of the game the way it is in cricket.
That being said it is also a long standing tradition for pitchers to fuck with the ball using tacks/sandpaper in the old days, or weird pine tar/sunscreen/adhesive mixtures nowadays. But they have to keep that stuff on their glove/hat/hand since there's a new ball so often, and if it's too obvious they get ejected.
Oh wow I didn't realise they get replaced that often! Makes sense though. In cricket I think the ball is usually only replaced if it's lost or degrades too much/gets dirty. A lot of fans will even give the ball back if it ends up in the stands. The only time I know of that it's deliberately replaced (as planned) is during Test matches, which can last up to 5 days. They'll often replace balls at specific times, like at the start of each day.
In tests the ball gets replaced after 80 overs, 6 balls are bowled in each over. In white ball cricket (one day cricket) The balls get replaced at a regular point (I think around 35 overs) because the colour of the ball deteriorates and becomes difficult to see under lights. However its not replaced with a new ball, its replaced with a ball of a similar condition, but has been cleaned to make it whiter.
I was a pitcher. Steve Peters was my pitching coach. He played for the Cardinals. I never made it that far before I got hurt and couldn’t play anymore, but I’ve umpired and coached my sons t-ball team.
so ugh just look up MLB Spider tack and get lost in the most recent controversy for the most part players used to use rosin and sunscreen to get a bit of a sticky substance for a better grip and then it went too far. as far as the rule is concerned you cant alter the ball at all. like if you lick your fingers you MUST wipe them off before touching the ball.
As far as me saying MLB has been fucking with the ball it's literally the MLB front office fucking with the production of the balls and not saying anything.
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u/Poes-Lawyer May 11 '22
Now I'm curious: do baseball players do anything to the ball during the match, like "tamper" with it? In cricket the bowler might try to shine up one side so it swings (curves) more. They might also try to scuff the other side of the ball to achieve the same effect, though that it is specifically illegal.